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Oscar Klefbom owned the top plus-minus statistic in the round robin section of the tournament.

The Swedish defenceman scored the goal to start the comeback from a 3-0 deficit to beat Russia in overtime, and finish first in their pool.

The Oilers' "other" first-round draft choice last June, picked 19th overall, was voted Sweden's top player in their semifinal win over Finland and might even be a candidate for world junior all-star honours. And he's getting rave reviews from scouts and hockey people in general, especially as the tournament has gone on.

Canada may not be in the gold medal game but Edmonton fans definitely have somebody to follow in the 6-foot-3, 201-pound defenceman who is a rookie pro with Farjestad in the Swedish Elite League.

But after practice Wednesday to prepare for the Russia-Sweden gold medal game, Klefbom said Edmonton fans probably aren't going to see him next season.

"If I'm getting the ice time with Farjestad, and I'm now up to 15 minutes a game, I'll probably stay one more year before coming to Edmonton. I think it's really good development and I have another year of world junior eligibility, so I could play next year in the tournament in Russia," he said.

"One more year, I think so. I will stay if I get the ice time.

"Also I have family and a girlfriend in Karlstad. It's my hometown," he said of the Swedish city where the team is located.

"I don't feel the need to rush. The Swedish Elite League is a very good league to have development and my team is a very good team. We're in the top four. I'm having a very good opportunity to develop. So far it feels right."

He didn't mention the struggles Magnus Paajarvi or Linus Omark have had in making their transitions to the NHL.

The Oilers aren't going to rush him. But they see him making a move toward his NHL future in front of their eyes at this tournament.

"He's made a real good jump at this tournament," said GM Steve Tambellini.

"He's a big man with really good feet, he moves the puck well, he's the youngest of their four captains. I think he's going to end up playing at about 225 pounds.

"What the scouts like best about him is that that he's a big man who can play against good players. He can get there. He's been right with the play."

With the Swedes having won their group, they'll be the home team in the gold medal game, with last change, and it's expected he'll get a test against he dynamic duo of Evgeni Kuznetsov and Nail Yakupov, the two flashy Russian stars the Canadians couldn't contain.

"I think I am playing pretty good on the whole ice. But the most important game is left," he said.

His goal to start the comeback against the Russians was an important moment, he said.

"It was 3-0 with 15 or 16 minutes left. We were having some pressure. There was some free ice. I came in. It was a slap shot to the top corner. It was like the start of our game."

Klefbom says he's found out one thing already.

"I like the smaller ice," he said.

"I think it fits me. I'm strong in the defensive zone and go up on offence. I am a two-way defenceman who isn't trying to be like somebody who already exists but my own. So I need time to develop into that player."

Klefbom says he follows the Oilers closely, watchig some games at 4 a.m. in Sweden.

"I have very good contact with them," he said of internet communication and regular visits by Oiler scouts.

"They keep in touch."

It's easy at the world junior in Calgary.

"If we make gold, that's the biggest thing. It's good to show you're a winner, right?"